Penn State Reaches Settlement With First Of Abuse Victims

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., after being sentenced in his child sex abuse case in October of last year.

Patrick Smith
/ Getty Images

Originally published on August 18, 2013 3:43 pm

A man who claimed sexual abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the university, the first of numerous such claims expected to be resolved in the coming days.

Twenty-six other settlements are expected to be reached this week. Penn State has set aside $60 million for those payouts.

Attorney Tom Kline, who represents "Victim 5" confirmed the deal and told the Inquirer that the victim did not want to comment on the settlement other than to say that he was "relieved."

Michael Rozen, a lawyer for the university, said there are "categories of relative value" between the many claims and that victim " 'Number 5,' sits at the top of the top grouping. There may be one or two other claims up there as well."

The Inquirer writes:

"Under the terms of each settlement, the victims have agreed not to sue Penn State or Second Mile [Sandusky's former charity], and cede their right to sue Second Mile to the university, which plans to go to court to try to get the charity's insurer to reimburse the university for some of the claim amount, Rozen said."